Chapter 325 - 61-73

Chapter 61 Luffy Awakens His Bloodline, Lake Makes His MoveSoon, Lake retreated back to the Going Merry, sensing Luffy's aura—a golden opportunity for his growth.

Normally, facing so many enemies, Luffy's first instinct would be to unleash a wide-range attack to wipe them out.

But this time, thanks to Lake's guidance, Luffy suddenly felt himself improving, his fighting becoming increasingly fluid and exhilarating.

Lake could sense the Saiyan bloodline awakening within Luffy, and he also felt these enemies were no longer of much help.

He'd leave everything to Luffy; he wanted to see how much stronger Luffy would become after this battle, as the enemy ship clearly lacked any truly capable fighters.

In fact, Vivi and Karu didn't even lift a finger in this battle, and Usopp merely fired two shots—and it was over.

This scene was somewhat disheartening for Vivi, and Nami quickly comforted her. Soon, Luffy had terrified the enemies on the ship.

They all jumped into the sea to escape, but it was clear that Luffy was still lacking in strength. So, Lake approached Luffy and beckoned with his hand, saying,

"Continue, I'll fight you."

Luffy smiled and charged at Lake. Lake calmly dodged Luffy's attacks and then immediately attacked.

Unexpectedly, Luffy also dodged his attack and swiftly counterattacked. Their movements, initially unhurried,

gradually became a blurry exchange, each punch, kick, and strike increasing in speed and power—a pure clash of physical techniques.

With the boost from his solar magic, Lake grew increasingly aggressive, while Luffy, though slightly at a disadvantage, was also improving.

Bang!

After their second clash, both were forced back, but Lake only retreated one step, while Luffy stumbled back several steps.

After exchanging glances, Lake said, "This is your last move. I'm sure you're nearing your limit."

Luffy nodded, assumed a fighting stance, and stretched his arm back to its maximum. Lake mirrored his stance, exhaling deeply as he gathered energy in his right fist.

"Armor: Gum-Gum Firehawk Gun!"

"Armor: Gathering: Eight Extremes Collapse!"

Boom!

The moment their attacks collided, the enemy ship beneath them succumbed to the pressure and split in two. The powerful shockwave was felt by the crew on the Going Merry.

However, Lake's punch was ultimately stronger. After a brief clash, Luffy was blasted away by Lake, crashing through the enemy ship's mast before coming to a stop.

The ship beneath them began to sink. Lake immediately brought Luffy back, where Nami immediately questioned him about why he had fought Luffy.

Lake quickly explained, "Luffy gained a lot this time because his Saiyan bloodline has begun to awaken in this battle."

Luffy himself naturally sensed something, but he didn't quite understand it yet. He only had one feeling: a burning desire to fight.

Because Luffy can now continuously grow stronger in battle. This isn't just a literal meaning; it means he constantly breaks through his original power limits in battle, thus becoming even stronger.

Not only that, but after Luffy was injured by Lake, his strength even increased after he recovered, all thanks to the benefits of his Saiyan bloodline.

While this transformation greatly improved Luffy, it also caused trouble for his crew, as his appetite had increased again.

Luffy's appetite was already bottomless, and with the awakening of his Saiyan bloodline, it grew even larger. One night, Luffy sneaked into the kitchen.

He ate a whole week's worth of food that Sanji had prepared in a single day—enough for everyone in the world!

The next day, unsurprisingly, Luffy received a severe beating, but he remained unrepentant, constantly complaining of hunger. Finally, Lake had to resort to his own reserves.

Three more days passed, and Lake's reserves were depleted. He had only a little food left, enough to keep the two girls from going hungry.

But it was completely insufficient for everyone else, and for Luffy, it wasn't even enough to fill a tooth gap. From that moment on, the Going Merry faced a food crisis.

Due to food shortages, to ensure they had enough energy, Lake hadn't even stopped training with Nami, which infuriated him.

Luffy got beaten up again, and when he tried to fish, he'd already eaten all the bait. So, Luffy and Usopp chose to use Karu as bait.

However, when Vivi found out, she beat him up again. Luffy was practically getting beaten up every day during this period, but he remained unrepentant.

Finally, one midday, as they passed through the mist of an underwater volcano, Luffy and his crew actually caught something with Karu—a person.

To be precise, it was an okama (transvestite). Lake naturally recognized it as Bon Clay, because he remembered a scene from the original story where Bon Clay appeared.

Lake kept his arm around Nami, preventing her from getting close to him, which meant Bon Clay only touched Luffy, Usopp, and Zoro's faces.

When he demonstrated his Devil Fruit ability, he didn't care about physique anymore. After exchanging pleasantries, Luffy and Usopp inexplicably formed a friendship with Bon Clay.

The three of them danced and cheered for no apparent reason. Lake genuinely couldn't understand where they got their energy. Just then, Lake noticed Vivi's strange expression.

Just as he was about to say something, a pink, bun-shaped swan ship appeared. This was Bon Clay's ship; they had come to pick him up.

Lake quietly transformed into a gust of wind. After a while, after they said goodbye and left, Lake quietly returned, a smile on his face.

Nami, seeing Lake's expression, guessed he was up to no good. She flipped him over and pinned him down, threatening, "Confess!"

Nami was getting bolder and bolder, which Lake naturally enjoyed. He hugged her and gave her a big kiss, saying, "Don't worry about food. That friend was very generous and gave me some."

With that, Lake waved his hand, and instantly a pile of food appeared on the deck. Luffy's eyes widened, and he immediately rushed over, but Lake, quick as a flash, grabbed him mid-air.

"If I let you eat so recklessly again this time, we'll be starving before we even reach Alabasta!"

The crew realized the problem and, together with Sanji, moved all the food to the kitchen. Sanji then took over the distribution of the food.

Based on Vivi's earlier estimation, and excluding Luffy's stealing of food, there was enough to last them until Alabasta, a piece of news that relieved the crew.

Chapter 62 Vivi's Feelings, Arrival in AlabastaThat evening, after leaving Nami's room, Lake was about to go outside for some fresh air when he saw Vivi sitting outside, hugging her knees.

Lake generously sat down next to her and asked, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Vivi glanced at Lake and said teasingly, "I'm afraid I'll see something I shouldn't~"

Lake coughed twice without changing his expression and quickly changed the subject, saying, "You should recognize that person from this morning, right?"

Vivi nodded, her expression somewhat serious, and said, "He's Mr. 2, Bon Clay. The important thing is, I saw my father's face in his imitation."

Lake, naturally, had also seen it and advised, "So you're worried he'll impersonate your father and do something, right?"

Vivi nodded again. Seeing the girl looking so preoccupied, Lake suddenly gave her a light tap on the bottom.

*Smack!*

The blow wasn't forceful, but the sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet night. Realizing what had happened, Vivi's face flushed instantly, and she stood up, clutching the spot where she'd been hit.

Then, looking at Lake with shame and indignation, she said, "What are you doing?!"

Lake, still with a nonchalant expression, said, "I forgot. I already said I'd get back at you when you're better. I'd almost forgotten about it, but seeing you like that just now suddenly reminded me."

Vivi frowned, muttering something under her breath, then sat back down next to Lake, this time leaning closer to him.

Lake wasn't some saint. He gently put his arm around her shoulder, comforting her, "How many times have I told you? Instead of worrying about unknown, unchangeable things, you should think about what you're going to do next. Always looking so preoccupied only makes you unhappy."

Vivi didn't seem to listen. Instead of resisting Lake, she leaned even closer to him, and after a while, she spoke.

"Like...can my country really be saved?"

"Absolutely. I'll end everything quickly once we get there," Lake answered without hesitation.

Vivi suddenly leaned closer to Lake. After a moment of eye contact, Vivi closed her eyes. Who could resist that? Lake immediately made his move.

The atmosphere was right, and Lake's hands began to wander instinctively. However, Vivi didn't let him succeed. Just as Lake was about to cross the line...

She pushed Lake away, stood there without saying a word, and then suddenly lightly kissed his lips before immediately pulling away and saying,

"It's really reassuring to have you here. Goodnight."

After saying that, Vivi ran back to her room as if fleeing. Lake was both bewildered and heartbroken. After a sigh, he could only sneak into Nami's room.

After deploying the Silence Barrier, Lake pounced on the sleeping Nami, and the battle finally ended late into the night. Nami was completely exhausted.

She fell into a deep sleep, and Lake, too lazy to go back, slept on Nami's bed. The next morning, as soon as Lake opened his eyes, he saw Nami's resentful little eyes beside him.

That sight ignited Lake, who turned and pinned Nami down, but ultimately stopped after Nami's repeated pleas.

Nami finally managed to extinguish Lake's lust after much pleading, and even ate breakfast. Feeling refreshed, Lake prepared to sunbathe on the deck.

Nami wouldn't be able to walk properly today, so she simply stayed in bed. Lake had just stepped outside when he saw Vivi.

He greeted Vivi with a smile, and Vivi politely returned the greeting. Then, she suddenly came to Lake's side and whispered, "Mr. Lake, you should be more careful in the mornings. I think Nami isn't feeling well."

Hearing Vivi's words, Lake was stunned. He realized he had forgotten to use his ability; he usually only remembered when he was doing something important.

Fortunately, Lake had asked Vivi, so his voice wasn't loud, and since Nami's room was on the second floor, only Vivi heard him, though it didn't really affect anything.

However, Lake sensed that Vivi's gaze was becoming increasingly strange. After breakfast, Lake carried the immobile Nami out to enjoy the sea breeze and sun.

Suddenly, a loud crash! A giant cat appeared on the surface of the sea! It was a gigantic sea monster with the upper body of a cat and the lower body of a fish. As soon as it appeared, Luffy shouted that he wanted to eat it!

Sanji and Zoro also joined in the fun, but Vivi quickly stopped them, because this creature was considered a sacred symbol by the people of Alabasta.

In the end, they naturally didn't touch the creature. However, seeing it meant they had reached the waters near Alabasta. Nami checked the compass on her wrist.

Confirming their course was correct, they needed to speed up and try to arrive that day. Just around noon, they finally saw the island.

An endless desert stretched out before them. Just looking at it, Lake felt a scorching heat. Chopper was already lying on the flat bed, his fur making him unbearably hot.

Upon reaching the shore, they encountered the local creature, the Kung Fu Dugong. Then came the predictable sequence of Usopp being defeated and Luffy winning.

Finally, when the dugongs continued to pester them, Lake and his crew ran out of food, so Lake resorted to force.

A single Conqueror's Haki attack instantly silenced the dugong, and the group began their journey through the desert.

They walked for an unknown amount of time, everyone becoming unbearably hot. Chopper was practically unable to move, and Zoro had to pull him along on a raft.

Nami, due to her condition, could barely walk, so Lake, naturally, carried her on his back the entire way. They walked and walked.

At midday, they encountered a deceptive bird trying to trick them into stealing, but Lake easily defeated it. Later, they encountered giant scorpions and similar creatures.

While none of these posed a significant threat, they were truly exhausted, and the endless desert seemed utterly hopeless.

Luffy even hallucinated and almost ate Chopper. After walking for an unknown amount of time, they finally saw what looked like a town.

However, Lake immediately recognized that the place was now ruins. Excited, Luffy took to the air, only to be disappointed and collapse to the ground upon seeing the devastation around him.

But surprisingly, there was still someone in these ruins, and this person even knew Vivi. The old man Vivi knew was called Uncle Doto.

Who would have thought that this frail old man had once been a wealthy oil tycoon? It was clear what he had endured.

Chapter 63 Lake sets off alone and completely crushes Crocodile.Through Uncle Doto and his group, they learned what was happening in the country, and the culprit was Crocodile.

Now that the objective was clear, there was nothing more to say. Lake skipped almost all the intermediate steps and went alone to Rainy Banquet to find Crocodile.

The rest of his companions went with Vivi to the capital. This arrangement was because the final battle would take place in the capital, and even if Crocodile couldn't defeat Lake, he would definitely run there.

Lake's trip had two purposes: to force Crocodile away and to save Robin. After finalizing the plan, Lake separated from his companions.

Because of his abilities, it was much easier for Lake to act alone. After searching for a while, Lake quickly saw his destination.

A beautiful sight in the desert, a bustling scene that would make anyone visiting for the first time think it was a mirage. Lake had just arrived when he saw Crocodile.

He was bullying a poor little pirate, then trying to establish his heroic image in front of the crowd. Crocodile, after clearing out the pirates, also noticed Lake.

Unable to hide his innate extraordinary aura, Lake couldn't be concealed in the crowd. Just as Crocodile was about to approach him, he suddenly vanished.

This caused Crocodile to frown, then also disappeared in a whirlwind of sand. Lake, however, wasn't ready to fight Crocodile immediately.

This place was so nice; he decided to enjoy it first. After all, according to the original storyline, Luffy and his crew wouldn't reach the capital for a while, and they might even encounter Ace along the way.

So Lake swaggered to the largest building in the area, a casino. Lady Luck was on his side today.

After winning a considerable amount of money, a staff member finally approached him, offering to take him to a VIP room. Lake knew what that meant, of course.

But going along for a bit wasn't a bad idea. After following the staff member into a room, suddenly everything went dark, and Lake felt himself sinking.

However, he didn't panic. He executed a stylish 360-degree turn and landed, looking around to find himself locked up.

Outside the massive iron cage, Crocodile watched him smugly. Rek, seemingly conjuring a stool from nowhere, sat down and leaned against the wall, looking relaxed.

Crocodile: "This is our first meeting, isn't it, Rek the Demon?"

Rek: "Using such methods on our first meeting, that's not like something a Shichibukai would do, Crocodile."

Crocodile: "Hmph! I don't need you to teach me how to do things. But since you've shown up, that means the princess is back, right?"

Rek: "Yeah, they're here. They should be almost at the capital by now. Your bunch of worthless underlings should be finished soon."

Crocodile: "Don't be so arrogant, brat! A bunch of greenhorns who've never seen the world. Do you think they can beat my men?"

Rek: "I don't think, I'm sure. And you're the same. If you behave yourself now and let that young lady keep me company, I might let you off the hook."

Seeing Lake's attitude and his words directed at Robin, Crocodile flew into a rage, slamming his hand on the table in front of him, instantly turning it into sand.

Then, turning to Lake, he said, "I've changed my mind. I'll kill you right here, you arrogant brat!"

"Desert Blade!"

Crocodile transformed his arm into a sand blade and slashed at Lake, instantly splitting the ground and sending a sand blade hurtling towards him.

Lake casually sidestepped Crocodile's attack, easily dodging it, and then chuckled, "If that's all there is to it, the Seven Warlords of the Sea are rather disappointing, Crocodile."

Before Old Sha could even speak, Lake drew the massive Zanpakuto from his back and slashed at him, shouting.

"The crescent moon soars into the sky!"

A massive blue crescent-shaped sword aura cleaved through the enormous seastone cage in front of Lake, hurtling towards Crocodile. Crocodile was clearly surprised by the attack.

However, he seemed to have been out of action for a long time, instinctively ignoring Lake's attack and preparing to dodge by transforming into his elemental form.

How naive! Lake knew Crocodile's abilities; he'd amplified that attack with Haki.

*Sizzle!*

Soon, Crocodile was completely engulfed by the blue crescent-shaped sword aura, a bloody gash instantly appearing from his shoulder to his leg. Robin, standing nearby, was stunned.

Crocodile couldn't believe he'd been injured. Enduring the pain, he placed his hand on the ground and cried out,

"Erosion Reincarnation!"

The ground instantly began to turn to sand, and the walls began to crumble. The basement was on the verge of collapse. Lake, seeing this, scoffed.

"This is too much fun, really."

Then he opened his arms wide, and a green hurricane seemed to gather in his hands. The next second...

"Wind Tunnel!"

Whoosh!

Lake's hands unleashed a gust of wind that forcefully blew away the sand, clearing a path for them to escape. Having done this, Lake clapped his hands and said,

"Tch~ Is this all the weakened Wind-Wind Fruit can do? It's better than nothing, I suppose."

Lake then instantly appeared beside the still-stunned Robin, picked her up, and followed the path he had cleared, leaving the area.

Soon, the two returned to the ground, where they had been standing, now completely collapsed into a pile of sand. Lake, using his Observation Haki, spotted Sandman trying to escape.

After setting Robin down, he said, "Wait here patiently. I'll take you to find the Poneglyphs you want to see. Don't wander off on your own."

With that, Lake vanished again in a gust of wind, leaving a stunned Robin, her mind completely blank.

"Who am I? Where am I? Why is he here? How did he know I was looking for the Poneglyphs? Who is this man?"

But Rek had no time for these questions. He suddenly appeared in an open space and said with a hint of disdain,

"You really think you can escape right under my nose, Crocodile!"

"Black Blade: Wild Dance!"

With that, Rek raised his Zangetsu, but this time Zangetsu was entirely black, and the sword intent of a greatsword master, like Hawkeye, erupted from Rek's body.

In an instant, the black blade unleashed a barrage of slashes centered on Lake, each strike incredibly powerful, quickly turning the flat ground into a scarred mess.

Old Crocodile was also forced to reappear, but his injuries appeared even more severe, seemingly caught in the crossfire of Lake's attacks.

Crocodile, clutching his still-bleeding wound, gritted his teeth and glared at Lake, saying, "Who are you?! How could a man like you possibly appear in the first half of the Grand Line?!"

Chapter 64 Old Sha's Treasure, Purple Grade is Not Bad"Who knows? It's all fate," Lake said with a light laugh, looking at Crocodile.

Lake maintained a relaxed demeanor throughout, which infuriated Crocodile; the other man clearly didn't take him seriously.

Suppressing his anger, Crocodile said to Lake, "Are you determined to leave me here today? If so, I'll fight to the death to make you suffer!"

Lake feigned consideration and said, "Letting you go isn't out of the question. Do you know the location of some treasure, or rather, a treasure map?"

Crocodile was stunned by Lake's words, but quickly recovered and tossed Lake a hand-drawn treasure map.

"Here's my treasure accumulated over the years. It's all yours. I hope you keep your word."

Lake took the treasure map and immediately confirmed with the system. With the conditions met, Lake's goal was achieved; Crocodile was going to be handed over to Luffy anyway.

So his aim was simply to exploit Crocodile before he was defeated. Now that his goal was achieved, Lake turned and waved to Crocodile.

Seeing this, Crocodile clenched his fists, then transformed into a sandstorm and fled again, his destination the royal capital.

Meanwhile, Lake hummed a little tune as he returned to his previous spot. Robin was indeed still waiting for him obediently. Upon seeing Lake's return, she immediately asked,

"Where's Crocodile?"

"I let him go. He probably went to the capital, but he just got beaten up in a different place. Don't worry about him," Lake said casually.

Robin was truly dumbfounded. The once invincible Shichibukai Crocodile had actually suffered such a fate? What was happening to the world?

Robin, still questioning her existence, noticed something in Lake's hand. Lake noticed her gaze and explained what it was.

Robin wasn't surprised at all, because she had drawn the map. Lake was overjoyed and immediately asked Robin to lead him to the treasure.

On the way, Robin expressed her confusion. She thought someone as powerful as Lake shouldn't be interested in ordinary treasure. Lake, however, remained mysterious and wouldn't explain.

He wanted Robin to witness it firsthand, which would be more convincing. Since Robin had drawn the map, it meant she was the one who buried the treasure.

Therefore, Robin knew the location very well. They arrived at the spot quickly. Without Lake even lifting a finger, Robin used her powers to push the treasure chest up.

Then, standing silently to the side, looking like he was watching a performance, Lake smiled and waved his hand. Actually, he didn't need to do anything; he could just wait for the system to audition. He simply thought it looked cool.

"Treasure discovered! Grade confirmed... Chosen One Partner +2 bonus... Congratulations, host, your luck is good! Treasure grade upgraded to purple!"

"Just purple..." To be honest, Lake wasn't very satisfied with this result, but thinking about how large Alabasta was, surely it couldn't be lacking in treasures.

Let's see what good stuff is first. Lake, as before, waved his hand and collected all the purple gems. What was left at the end would be the good stuff.

"Congratulations, host, on obtaining the treasure, Incantation: Language generates a curse that takes effect, but it also carries certain risks. It consumes a lot of stamina, and can backfire when facing opponents of significantly lower strength."

"Congratulations, host, on obtaining the treasure, Palm Healing Technique (Enhanced Version): It can heal and restore both internal and external injuries, and can also interfere with others by releasing energy, causing them to fall into a state of unconsciousness. PS: The injuries that Palm Healing Technique can heal depend on the user's medical skills."

"Congratulations, host, on obtaining the purple exclusive treasure: Yin Healing and Wound Destruction: By knowing the enemy's attack points in advance and healing them before the enemy attacks, you can minimize the damage received."

It's not bad, really. Those two treasures were clearly prepared for Robin and Chopper. Lake's exclusive treasure left him speechless.

Wolf's super-healing constitution almost guarantees his survival, and now with Yin Healing and Wound Destruction, he won't suffer direct fatal injuries, which is practically equivalent to him being immortal.

Rin isn't their partner yet, so Lake doesn't plan to give her this somewhat dangerous power for the time being. Instead, he picked out some pretty gems for Robin.

He certainly didn't lack these things, and these gems were not only priceless but also incredibly beautiful—a girl's dream come true, a sure way to boost her favorability as a gift.

Robin had been startled when Lake opened the box earlier, but after a while, she had calmed down, despite the many things that had happened that day that she couldn't understand.

However, she still had things to do, so she asked Lake to go to the capital with her. How could he refuse such an invitation from a beautiful woman?

Because the journey was quite long, Lake would have already vanished in a flash if he were alone, but with Robin in tow, they continued on their way as usual.

Unfortunately, there was only one camel left. Reluctantly, the two of them had to set off on a single camel, and the space on the camel was extremely limited.

Lake was practically pressed against Robin's body, and Robin's hair would occasionally brush against Lake's face, which caused some of his reactions.

Robin naturally felt something pressing against her back. Even with her usual aloofness, she could only blush and remain silent in this situation.

The journey was incredibly awkward. Halfway through, Lake almost made a move, but thankfully reason prevailed, and he decided to rest before continuing.

Robin nodded in agreement, and the two found a shady spot in a small canyon to rest. Lake bent over, pretending to search for something on the ground.

This gesture was obvious; it was mainly to cover up the awkwardness. Robin, blushing, turned her head away. After a while, Robin suddenly spoke.

"How did you know my identity? I'm pretty sure this was our first meeting."

Lake, having calmed down by now, sat down next to Robin and said, "Just pretend I've been watching you."

"Watching me? Why?"

"Because I want you to be my partner."

"That's not a good reason. That would be more convincing if your captain said it."

"Haha~ That's true, but if I had to give a reason, wouldn't it be nice if I didn't want to see you suffer?"

"But you don't even know me..."

"Does knowing you matter? Human nature is inherently good, especially towards such a beautiful young lady, so I couldn't bear it~"

"Aren't you afraid your navigator will find out if you flirt with me like this?"

"Looks like you've investigated us quite thoroughly."

"Of course, it's become a habit over the years, otherwise it would be hard to survive."

Chapter 65 Straw Hat Crew VS Baroque WorksWhile Lake and Robin were chatting idly, things were already bustling in the royal capital. Crocodile hadn't arrived yet, but the Straw Hat crew had already begun their operation.

The crew continued their planned confrontation with the Baroque Works agents. First up were Usopp and Chopper, facing Mr. 4 and Miss Christmas.

Miss Christmas is a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user, possessing the Mole-Mole Fruit, allowing her to transform into a mole and dig burrows underground for combat.

Mr. 4, on the other hand, is a striker wielding a four-ton baseball bat and a dachshund gun (made from the Dog-Dog Fruit).

The two working together were quite troublesome. Chopper, newly joined and without the power-up from Lake's treasure, relied solely on his recently awakened Haki.

He was at a disadvantage against them, mainly due to his lack of combat experience. Usopp, being a sniper, never fired a shot he wasn't confident in.

With his powerful Observation Haki and sniper's talent, Usopp, in a well-chosen position, landed a single shot on Miss Christmas, who was constantly burrowing underground.

Mr. 4 was also defeated by Chopper's transformation and a single strike using Armament Haki.

Usopp: "Chopper! Hold off that guy with the baseball bat for now."

Chopper: "Got it, Usopp!"

Usopp: "Hiding doesn't work, does it? Since last time, I can see much more... Phew... I see you!"

Bang!

"Ah!"

As a bullet pierced the ground, a scream echoed from underground. Usopp immediately stood proudly with his hands on his hips, looking like an invincible overlord.

Chopper looked on with admiration, while Mr. 4, having heard the scream, angrily raised his weapon and charged at the nearest Chopper.

Usopp, realizing what was happening, immediately raised his gun to fire, but Chopper struck first. Chopper bit into a Rumble Ball and crushed it.

"Rumble Ball - Arm Strengthening!"

Chopper transformed into his Arm Strengthening form. His wrists bulged with enhanced muscles, and his hooves were strong enough to shatter rocks. Facing the charging enemy, Chopper fearlessly assumed a fighting stance and chanted.

"Armed Enhancement - Cherry Blossom Mark!"

Clang! Crack~

Chopper directly shattered a four-ton baseball bat, the powerful force continuing the attack, leaving a cherry blossom-shaped hoof mark on Mr. 4.

Mr. 4 was instantly knocked unconscious and collapsed to the ground. Afterwards, Usopp immediately rushed forward to praise him, "Wow, Chopper! Your Armament Haki is so skillful!"

Chopper immediately reverted to his original cute form, saying coyly, "You jerk! Even if you praise me like that, I won't be happy~"

Meanwhile, on the other side of the royal capital, Sanji, who hadn't met Bon Clay while cooking in the kitchen, finally did.

However, they were enemies. Based on their strength in the original storyline, Sanji would have had a difficult time fighting Bon Clay at this point.

But now it was completely different. Having mastered Devil Trigger and dual Haki, Sanji completely overwhelmed Bon Clay.

All of Xiao Feng's attacks failed to touch Sanji, yet a single kick from Sanji left him severely injured, unable to even stand. The difference in strength was obvious.

"This servant...this servant will not lose!"

"Trying to get up again? Then I won't hold back anymore."

"What a joke! This servant's Okama Kenpo (transvestite) style won't be defeated so easily! Take this!"

"You'd better be quiet."

Xiao Feng struggled to his feet, shouting as he charged at Sanji, unleashing his strongest attack.

"Okama Kenpo: Explosive Swan Dance!"

Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke, and pale blue flames ignited beneath his feet. The next moment...

"Diable Jambe: Dragon's Eye SHOT!"

Bang!

With a loud crash, Xiao Feng collapsed to the ground, charred black. Sanji glanced at him, then turned and left. He had held back, not intending to kill him.

The scene shifts back to Nami, who is currently fighting Miss Twofinger. However, it's less of a fight and more of Nami toying with her.

With the Great Elementalist's Staff in hand, Nami's strength has increased several levels, and she's finally encountered a worthy opponent.

Of course, she wants to practice her abilities. Transforming into her Cyclone Elemental form, Nami swings her staff.

Instantly, a strange gust of wind, carrying a large amount of sand, engulfs Miss Twofinger, completely blinding her.

Nami begins a complete rout, and Miss Twofinger eventually concedes defeat, collapsing to the ground in tears. From beginning to end, Miss Twofinger only saw Nami once.

The subsequent battle is completely blind; she's constantly being beaten in the sandstorm, which is incredibly agonizing. Now, only Zoro remains.

Zoro's enemy is Crocodile's strongest subordinate, Mr. 1, a user of the Quick-Slash Fruit, capable of turning any part of his body into blades at will.

His entire body, including his internal organs, was as hard as steel. In the original storyline, Zoro would have been completely overwhelmed in this battle, only managing to win by mastering the art of cutting steel.

However, things are different now. As the hardest-working member of the crew, Zoro's dual-type Haki is second only to Lake, and even surpasses Luffy's.

Combined with his recent mastery of the Swift Wind Sword Style, Zoro's strength has long reached the level of a swordsman, capable of even flying slashes.

Let alone cutting steel, the outcome of their duel was entirely predictable.

*Sizzle!*

After knocking Mr. 1 back with another slash, Zoro calmly said, "Is this all you've got?"

Mr. 1 frowned, looking at the multiple bloody gashes in front of him. He hadn't expected to be beaten like this after just boasting; the idea that someone could cut steel was utterly impossible in Mr. 1's mind.

It's understandable that he's used to bullying weaker opponents in a small town, and his lack of experience is to be expected. Mr. 1 isn't one to back down easily, and without a word, he launched another attack on Zoro.

"Annihilation Slash!"

Mr. 1 swung his arms, crossing them in front of his chest, creating a slash that could penetrate the target and then unleash a radial attack behind it, slicing through the object.

Facing his attack, Zoro struck a cool pose and calmly recited:

"Three-Sword Style: Wind Demon Slash!"

*Sizzle!*

Zoro's figure moved so fast it seemed to vanish in a flash, reappearing behind Mr. 1, while three bloody gashes exploded in front of Mr. 1.

Blood splattered everywhere, and he collapsed to his knees, saying weakly, "He even cut through steel, Roronoa...

..."

Zoro, after hearing this, looked at the fallen Mr. 1 and said, "Cutting through steel is just the beginning."

Chapter 66 The Final Battle: Luffy vs. CrocodileVivi, however, wasn't with her companions. Her primary mission was to quell the rebellion, and thanks to her efforts, the rebel army in the capital had halted its advance.

Vivi had completely exposed Crocodile's plot; all the evidence was laid bare, and even those who had attempted to incite war were exposed.

Just as Vivi breathed a sigh of relief that everything was going smoothly, the real culprit arrived. Crocodile, injured by Rayquaza, appeared in the capital, holding Vivi's father hostage.

Although he looked somewhat disheveled, who would dare to attack him? Crocodile made no attempt to conceal his true purpose.

His goal was to find Pluton, one of the Ancient Weapons, and then rule the world. It can only be said that Crocodile's ideas were far too naive.

To ensure the safety of the people, Vivi's father had no choice but to agree to take Crocodile to the underground palace, and Vivi's attempt to ambush Crocodile failed, resulting in her being thrown off the city wall.

Fortunately, Luffy arrived just in time and immediately engaged Crocodile in battle. Rek had warned Luffy upon arriving in Alabasta that Crocodile, like Smoker from Loguetown, was a Logia-type Devil Fruit user.

Therefore, Luffy was well-prepared, while Crocodile was completely unprepared. He was already astonished by Rek's monstrous strength.

Who would have thought that this Straw Hat kid also possessed Armament Haki? Luffy's sudden punch sent Crocodile flying.

Upon getting up, the enraged Crocodile exploded. He disregarded Pluton and immediately engaged Luffy in a fierce battle.

As someone who had once challenged Whitebeard, Crocodile was no pushover. After suffering numerous defeats, he now had only one thought: to kill his opponent.

Luffy, while lacking in combat skills, had successfully awakened his Saiyan bloodline and grew stronger with each battle.

From initially barely managing to parry Crocodile's attacks, he eventually began to overpower him, and the bewildered Crocodile, questioning his existence, prepared to destroy the entire capital.

Fortunately, Luffy noticed his movement, easily knocking him away, and then immediately followed.

Although the capital was safe, Luffy himself was now in danger, because this was the desert, and Crocodile's strength, aided by his home turf, was still terrifying.

"Straw Hat Kid! You've stopped me time and time again! Dare to fight me in the desert? Are you prepared to die?!"

"I will not die! I am the man who will become the Pirate King!"

"Desert Vajra Blade!"

With that, Crocodile launched another attack on Luffy, transforming his hands into four large sand blades that hurtled towards him with overwhelming force.

Luffy immediately responded.

"Armored Gum-Gum Eagle Gun!"

Bang!

After the clash, Crocodile's attack was blocked, but Luffy was also sent flying, blood flowing continuously from his arms. After getting up again, Luffy looked at Crocodile and smiled.

"Not enough! There will definitely be stronger opponents in future adventures. My strength isn't enough to protect my comrades. I need to use even greater power to defeat you!"

Old Crocodile looked at Luffy disdainfully and said, "There are differences between Devil Fruits. Logia-type fruits are considered the strongest because the power of nature is unstoppable! What can a rubber man like you do? Die!"

"Crescent Sand Dune!"

Old Crocodile enlarged his arm, transforming it into a crescent-shaped sand blade, and charged towards Luffy. This attack, if it hit, would even drain the water from Luffy's body.

Luffy, however, calmly assumed his classic pose and chanted,

"Enter... Gear Second!"

Luffy used his legs as pumps to accelerate blood flow and strengthen his body—this was Gear Second.

Luffy's skin turned bright red and steam rose from it, as if he had been given a stimulant; his greatest boost was speed.

The instant Crocodile's attack approached, Luffy vanished, appearing in the air a second later, aiming his hands at Crocodile and chanting.

"Armored Gum-Gum Jet Pistol!"

Bang!

"Ah..."

The blow sent Crocodile crashing to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood. This was Gum-Gum Jet Pistol's second gear—aiming at the enemy and then quickly punching.

Because Gum-Gum Jet Pistol allows for extremely fast movements, it was like firing an air bullet; Crocodile was hit without even realizing it.

That wasn't the end of it; Old Sha's voice came from underground again, shouting.

"Desert Sunflower!"

Suddenly, the sand on the ground began to shift, gradually forming a huge quicksand pit. If Luffy fell in, he would be trapped deep within it. And that wasn't all.

Old Crocodile reappeared, creating a sandstorm in his hand, and threw it at Luffy, shouting.

"Heavy sandstorm!"

A massive sandstorm tornado appeared, growing larger and larger as it moved until even Crocodile himself could no longer control it.

However, Luffy remained remarkably calm. He didn't immediately think about how to block Crocodile's attack, but rather how to quickly defeat him.

Luffy knew that once Crocodile fell, these attacks would crumble, even though Crocodile had vanished after unleashing them.

However, in his current state, Luffy could still roughly pinpoint Crocodile's location using his Observation Haki. Suddenly, Luffy disappeared from the air, reappearing a second above an open area.

"Armored Gum-Gum Jet Rain!"

Thud! Thud! Thud…

A rapid series of attacks, like a torrential downpour, rained down on the ground. Moments later, Crocodile was forced back into his original form; he hadn't expected Luffy to have detected his location.

Now, Crocodile had to accept the reality that the Straw Hat Pirates had also mastered dual-type Haki, an ability even he hadn't mastered.

Jealousy and anger caused Crocodile to lose his temper again. Facing a gust of sand, he swung his Desert Diamond Blade at Luffy once more.

Luffy didn't take the hit head-on, disappearing and reappearing a second before Crocodile. Actually, Luffy's movements were simply too fast for Crocodile to keep up with.

That's why it felt like Luffy was constantly disappearing. Seeing Luffy still provoking him like this, Crocodile decided to finish him off with his strongest attack.

However, Luffy looked at Crocodile and shouted, "You lost, Crocodile! Give Vivi's country back!"

"What a joke, Straw Hat! I'm Crocodile!" Crocodile shouted back with equal force.

"Desert Giant Scorpion - Dust Settles!"

"Armor - Gum-Gum Jet Fire Fist!"

Boom!

Chapter 67 concludes, with Smoker arriving late.Under Crocodile's control, the giant sand scorpion lunged at Luffy with its stinger. Luffy, his black Armament Haki-enhanced arm ablaze, met the attack head-on.

Their attacks collided with a deafening roar that ripped through the sky, obscuring their figures in a cloud of smoke. Moments later, the wind dispersed the smoke.

Luffy, covered in blood, remained standing, one hand clutching his hat, while Crocodile lay in a pool of blood.

However, judging from his heavy breathing, he was still alive and conscious, though completely immobile.

Crocodile looked at the sky, clearly aware of his impending fate. Before Luffy was about to depart, he coughed up blood and spoke.

"Straw Hat Boy, is your goal also Pluton...?"

Luffy said in an unfriendly tone, "What Pluton? I said I'm here to help Vivi defeat you!"

Crocodile suddenly burst into laughter, "Hahaha! Cough cough... Pirates actually trying to play the hero... How laughable..."

Luffy ignored him, turned and left, leaving only Crocodile lying in a pool of blood in the desolate desert.

Back to Lake's side, when he arrived at the capital, he actually witnessed Luffy beating up Crocodile, but he didn't intervene.

He was originally going to leave it to Luffy, and he had important matters to attend to. After Luffy took Crocodile outside to fight, Lake and Robin appeared.

After Lake's explanation as an intermediary, and considering that they were benefactors of this country, Vivi's father agreed to Lake's request.

He took Lake and Robin to the secret base in Alabasta, where the Poneglyphs, which Robin had always wanted to know, were kept.

This place truly revealed the information about Pluto that Crocodile had longed for, but unfortunately, he would never know it in his lifetime. This result greatly disappointed Robin.

Because this wasn't what she wanted. What she sought was the true history, the events of the Void Century, and the truth of this world.

Seeing Robin's disappointed face, Lake stepped forward to comfort her, saying, "What's there to be sad about? This thing isn't rare. You'll encounter more in the future. You'll find what you want, believe me."

Robin looked at Lake beside her and suddenly smiled, saying, "What does finding it in the future have to do with me? I never said I wanted to join you guys~"

Lake was speechless. Robin was still the same cunning Robin. Lake decided to play along and said nonchalantly, "Whatever. It's a pity about the few locations with Poneglyphs I know of; it seems they're useless now~"

Hearing Lake's words, Robin froze. She was about to say something, but remembering what she had just said, the aloof and powerful woman broke down again.

He snorted and turned to leave, saying as he went, "I'll be waiting for you on your ship... You... you keep your word!"

Lake smiled and replied, "Don't worry, I always keep my word!"

Robin didn't respond and left without a word. Lake thanked Vivi's father and then helped evacuate the people from the capital.

After a while, the crew arrived, all seemingly unharmed, indicating the battle had been quite easy. The Marines, however, arrived late.

These Marines were familiar faces. Lake hadn't been with the group before, so he didn't know them, but seeing Tashigi leading the team confirmed it.

The Marines arrived and immediately captured the Baroque Works members who had been defeated by the crew. A little while later, Luffy finally rejoined the crew, but in a rather pitiful state.

Chopper, terrified, ran around calling for a doctor, forgetting he was the doctor himself. Chopper bandaged Luffy, and Lake, seeing Luffy return, immediately went to find the Marines.

He quickly appeared in a chain-smoking office. Smoker, startled by Lake's sudden appearance, was about to attack without a word.

Lake, exasperated, gave Smoker a lecture, transforming into smoke in the same way, and then pinning Smoker down with his weapon.

"Haven't seen you in a while, still as bad-tempered as ever. If you want to fight me, at least work on your Armament Haki, Smoker."

Smoker was furious, but he was utterly powerless. The tip of his weapon was made of Seastone, which would damage any Devil Fruit user.

Seeing that Smoker wasn't going to continue, Lake casually found a stool and sat down as if it were his own home.

After getting up, Smoker clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, saying, "What are you doing here? Don't think I'm afraid of you just because you're stronger than me."

Lake laughed and said, "Seriously, Smoker? We helped your Navy take down a Shichibukai who was planning to steal a country! Instead of thanking us, you're acting like this."

Although Smoker and his group were a step behind, they had gathered enough intelligence, including Crocodile's plan.

However, the Straw Hat crew ultimately defeated them all, which greatly displeased him. His men even had to come to clean up the mess, which is why Smoker hadn't shown up before.

"Speak, what exactly do you want?" Smoker said to Lake, his emotions calming down.

"Two things. Crocodile has been defeated by Luffy. Keep heading west from the capital; you should be able to find him. I suggest you go quickly. Secondly, after helping you so much, asking for some reward isn't unreasonable, is it?"

"Reward? You, a pirate, come asking me for reward? Are you kidding me!"

"Don't get excited. I'm not asking for money directly. Do you have any treasure maps or anything like that, or do you know the location of any treasure?"

"Treasure maps? Treasure? You're actually interested in these things? According to my intelligence, the Straw Hat crew is an extremely wealthy pirate group."

"Who wouldn't want more money?"

"I'll ask for you, now get out of here!"

"Hey, hey~ don't be so irritable, to become stronger you need a good mindset first~"

"Die, Lake!"

"I'm outta here! Bye~ Remember my reward!"

...

Smoker looked at the cigars on the table, angrily smashed the table with his fist, and muttered to himself, "What does this guy take me for! Where's Tashigi? Call her back right now!"

Having finished his business, Lake returned to the royal castle. Luffy, bandaged up like a mummy by Chopper, was munching on a mountain of food.

Lake, unfazed, immediately rushed to Nami's side, their relationship now quite different.

Nami didn't push Lake away; instead, she nuzzled him, asking about his condition with concern. They chatted hand-in-hand, much to Sanji's chagrin.

Chapter 68 Lake: Would you believe me if I said I was forced?That evening, Vivi's father, Cobra, invited them to a lavish dinner to express his gratitude, though nobles like themselves usually had to be particular about the reason.

However, wherever Luffy was, the atmosphere inevitably turned into a banquet, and the royal palace was no exception.

Luffy started eating wildly, almost devouring Chopper as well. Everyone was worried that Luffy would steal their food, so they all ate with gusto.

The serious atmosphere gradually transformed into a cheerful one, continuing until late into the night before everyone finally went to sleep.

Unable to sleep, Lake got out of bed, intending to go outside for some fresh air. But as soon as he opened the door, he saw Vivi leaning against the railing.

Lake naturally approached her, leaning against the railing, and said, "Still awake?"

Vivi didn't speak, just quietly looked at Lake, making even the thick-skinned Lake a little embarrassed. Just as he was about to speak, Vivi finally spoke.

"I...I can't go on adventures with you guys..."

Lake wasn't surprised to hear Vivi's words; it was expected. However, he hadn't expected Vivi to have made up her mind so soon.

Lake smiled and said, "That's a shame, but it's fine this way. Follow your heart and do what you want to do."

Vivi kept her eyes on Lake, nodded, and then suddenly said shyly, "Um...I have something I want to tell you privately, is that alright?"

Lake asked, somewhat puzzled, "Aren't you telling me this privately now?"

Vivi shook her head sharply, then pulled Lake's wrist and led him towards her room, saying as they walked, "Let's talk in my room..."

Lake was a little confused, but he let Vivi lead him. Soon they arrived at Vivi's room. The decorations weren't extravagant, but it gave off an immaculate feeling.

However, what happened next surprised Lake. As Vivi locked the door and turned off the lights, the atmosphere began to feel strange.

Even a fool could see what this meant, but Lake couldn't understand. Vivi, also shyly, explained, "Although I know you already have Nami... but... but I don't want to hide my feelings like this. I want to create a memory that belongs only to the two of us... is that okay?"

What could he do? She'd already said that; if Lake remained unmoved, he'd be worse than an animal. As Vivi's equipment fell off...

Lake's breathing quickened. In the darkness, the two kissed, moving the battlefield to the pristine white bed. With an invisible barrier appearing, the room fell silent.

...

The next morning, Vivi woke up and was jolted awake by a sharp pain. Looking at the man still fast asleep beside her, Vivi blushed and hugged him.

For some reason, Nami had sensed something was wrong that morning. She searched everywhere for Lake, eventually finding Vivi.

No explanation was needed; Nami immediately understood what had happened upon seeing Vivi's appearance. Before Vivi could even explain, Lake was charred black by Nami's elemental powers.

It was only after Vivi kept explaining that Nami's complexion gradually returned to normal. The charred Lake slumped silently in the corner, resigned to his mistake.

Vivi, too, lay on the bed with her head bowed, looking begging for forgiveness. She wanted to stand up, but her body wouldn't allow it; she was a virgin.

Lake had initially intended to stop, but perhaps thinking about how long it would be before they met again, Vivi transformed into her second personality—the queen.

She flipped him over, turning him into her mount, leaving him no choice but to endure Vivi's actions until she was exhausted and fell into a deep sleep.

So, Vivi's legs were trembling, and she couldn't stand up. Nami sighed and then began to talk to Vivi.

Lake, having been kicked out by Nami, thought to himself, "This isn't exactly a harem fire, is it? I was forced into it, yeah!"

Lake was always good at self-consolation. It seemed he wouldn't need to get involved in the rest of the story, and with some free time, he decided to take a stroll.

His clothes were mostly casual wear bought by Nami; they fit him well, but didn't make him particularly handsome, so Lake decided to buy some clothes.

Wandering through the streets, people greeted him warmly. Lake's face was quite distinctive, so everyone knew he was a member of the Straw Hat crew.

And since the Straw Hat crew were the country's saviors, their friendliness was to be expected. Soon, Lake arrived at the largest clothing store in the capital.

Upon entering, he was greeted by a dazzling array of clothes, and especially after seeing the bunny girl outfit, Lake instantly knew he'd come to the right place.

After some time, Lake emerged from the shop with a smile. He had gone on a big shopping spree, buying some unique outfits for his companions.

He also bought a special piece for Nami, and for himself, he chose a black trench coat-like garment, which the shopkeeper said was made of a special material.

Even in the hot desert of Alabasta, it wouldn't feel too hot. The color scheme was similar to a Shinigami uniform, but the style was much better, and Lake was quite satisfied.

On his way back to the palace, Lake bumped into Tashigi leading a patrol. Lake remained calm, but Tashigi reacted quite strongly.

The various emotions that flashed across her face clearly showed that Tashigi was somewhat afraid of Lake. However, at this moment, Lake also noticed that Tashigi had switched swords.

The previous Shigure has now been replaced by Hanashu. Lake smiled and said to her, "To collect the famous swords from bad guys, you need the strength to be worthy of them."

Tashigi's expression immediately changed. She gripped Hanashu tightly. Lake was somewhat helpless; he only wanted to provoke the girl, but she actually thought he was going to steal her sword.

Just as the atmosphere became tense, Smoker arrived, dismissed Tashigi, and tossed Lake a somewhat ancient-looking scroll, saying,

"We're even now. If you ever appear before me again, I'll personally send you to Impel Down." With that, he left with Tashigi.

The system's voice had already echoed in Lake's mind as soon as he received the scroll, indicating its location was Alabasta, which instantly brightened his mood.

Ignoring whether Smoker heard him or not, Lake smiled and replied, "Thanks~" before humming a tune and heading towards the palace.

Chapter 69 Solo Treasure Hunt, Integration of New Function SystemsAfter obtaining Smoker's treasure map, Lake immediately sought help from Icarus, a minister of Alabasta, to pinpoint the exact location.

After several hours of study, they finally confirmed the location. However, this didn't solve Lake's dilemma.

His crew was busy with their own tasks. Luffy, injured, was in only two states: eating and sleeping, and was currently fast asleep, completely unresponsive.

Desperate, Lake decided to go alone this time. He figured he could just have bad luck; he'd already made some gains, and he was willing to gamble.

The location was relatively far, and having his crew with him would have been more troublesome. So, Lake simply transformed into a gust of wind and set off.

Even so, it took him some time to find the place. Looking at the setting sun, Lake was thankful he'd come alone and could return before dark.

Otherwise, by nightfall, he wouldn't have the stamina to use the Wind-Wind Fruit as he'd done on the way there. He was alright now; he should be able to get back in time.

"Treasure discovered! Grade confirmed... +1 bonus to Chosen One partner... Treasure grade unchanged, blue!"

Looking at the burst of blue light, Lake felt a moment of disappointment, but quickly accepted it, and as usual, waved his hand to collect everything.

"Congratulations, host, on obtaining a treasure: Paramecia-type Slow-Slow Fruit (weakened version): Make a specific hand gesture and then emit a light wave. Upon impact, it will slow down the target's movements. The stronger the target, the weaker the effect."

"Congratulations, host, on obtaining a blue exclusive treasure: System Fusion: Host exclusive. By fusing two weakened versions of an ability, you can upgrade the other weakened version to a basic version. Similarly, two basic versions of an ability can be upgraded to an enhanced version."

One of the fruits was already useless, and it was a weakened version, but the other one was interesting. Lake wouldn't believe it was a blue treasure.

While powerful, Lake remembered that his Divine Vision had been changed during the last system upgrade and couldn't be retained. So, to upgrade an ability to an enhanced version, wouldn't he have to keep opening boxes?

Just as Lake was pondering this, the system's voice suddenly sounded in his mind again.

"Detected that the host's strength has reached a new level. Divine Vision has unlocked a new function: Secret Technique Copying: Can copy any ability of anyone. The copied ability will be retained as a weakened version. Can be used once a day."

"Uh..."

Lake was speechless. He hadn't done anything, so how had his strength reached a new level? And didn't this reward directly solve the problem he had just been complaining about?

Although shocked, Lake chose to silently accept it. The system was openly giving him special treatment, so he naturally had to play dumb and cooperate.

So Lake immediately began experimenting, fusing Luffy's unawakened Nika Fruit with the Slow-Slow Fruit he had just acquired, directly upgrading the Wind-Wind Fruit to its basic version.

Instantly, Lake felt his control over the fruit double. Now, with his naming magic, whatever he called out came true.

It's safe to say that his Haki is now on par with a Dragon's, marking a significant leap in strength. The Smoke-Smoke Fruit and Chop-Chop Fruit will have to be put on hold for now.

The Smoke-Smoke Fruit, being a Logia-type, is quite convenient. As for the Chop-Chop Fruit, Lake has always felt it has great potential, so he'll try to upgrade it to an enhanced version if given the chance.

His enhanced version of the Silence-Silence Fruit has never shown its true power; instead, it's been used as a tool to conceal the fluctuations of his battle with Nami.

However, the enhanced Silence-Silence Fruit actually possesses a very powerful ability, similar to the Vacuum Barrier of the Caesar-Gas Fruit.

It can create an invisible barrier centered on Lake. Anyone within this area will be directly transported into a vacuum environment, which is far more than just being unable to breathe.

Besides the inability to breathe, the fluids in their blood will rapidly boil in the vacuum environment, causing blood vessels to expand and even rupture, resulting in massive blood leakage.

Vital organs such as the lungs, heart, and brain will suffer from tissue necrosis and organ dysfunction due to insufficient oxygen and nutrients.

Besides these, there will be many other effects. Even in the world of One Piece, where everyone seems like a monster, this technique is incredibly terrifying.

The reason it hasn't been used is because he hasn't encountered anyone who can force Lake to go all out; just like with Hollow Vision, there's no need to use it.

After the Wind-Wind Fruit's upgrade, Lake finally opened his stats for a long time.

Name: Lake

Age: 19

Weapons: Zangetsu (Bankai), Ebony and Ivory

Physical Talents: Hollow Vision, Healing Ability

Special Abilities: Solar Magic, Naming Magic, Yin Healing and Destruction

Mastered Abilities: Navy Rokushiki, Fish-Man Karate, Three-Sword Style (Weakened Version), Black Blade (Weakened Version)

Mastered Haki: Observation Haki (Intermediate), Armament Haki (Intermediate), Conqueror's Haki (Beginner)

Devil Fruits: Chop-Chop Fruit (Weakened Version), Smoke-Smoke Fruit (Weakened Version), Wind-Wind Fruit, Silence-Silence Fruit (Enhanced Version)

It's been simplified quite a bit, but you can see that Lake has indeed improved a lot. Just like the Three-Sword Style is synonymous with Zoro's swordsmanship, the Black Blade is synonymous with Mihawk's swordsmanship.

If he weren't so reluctant, Lake would honestly have fused the Three-Sword Style and the Black Blade to improve Rokushiki or Fish-Man Karate, even though he's used many techniques before.

However, a glance at the panel reveals that techniques executed using Naming Magic are clearly not included, and there are certain limitations to the techniques Lake can use with Naming Magic.

For example, given his existing abilities, because he has mastered the basic version of Fish-Man Karate, the power of Naming Magic won't decrease at all; in fact, it might even be stronger.

However, if Lake didn't master Fish-Man Karate, he could still execute Naming Magic directly, but the power would depend entirely on his strength.

Therefore, mastering one's own abilities is crucial. If Lake were a monster like Whitebeard in his youth, he wouldn't need to consider these factors; whatever he called out would manifest as incredibly powerful techniques.

However, Lake's current level is far from that point. Looking at it this way, he still has a long way to go. He used to think he was invincible.

After all this time, Lake should head back. Now he doesn't need to worry about the effects of the Dark Ages anymore. Even without any solar magic, he can easily travel using only his fruit.

Chapter 70 Unexpected Turn of Events at Departure, Naval EncirclementLeisure time always flies by, and in the blink of an eye, Lake and his group had been there for three days. During this time, the Navy had been constantly putting pressure on Cobra.

To avoid causing them trouble, Lake and his group decided to leave. Nami and Vivi, though Lake didn't know what had happened, clearly didn't mind at all.

In fact, Nami had even been encouraging them these past few days, and at the end, Lake even enjoyed the privilege of the three of them traveling together, almost making him feel like he was in heaven.

Vivi, because she hadn't been able to walk for the past few days, had her declaration ceremony postponed until today, but this time her companions already knew about Vivi's decision beforehand.

Finally, under the cover of Vivi's speech, everyone quietly left the capital and headed towards the Going Merry. They arrived in no time.

However, next to the Going Merry was another ship, the one they had seen before—Bon's ship, even though they had been enemies.

However, after being defeated by Sanji, Bon Clay had reformed and had been helping Lake and his crew guard the Going Merry, repeatedly diverting patrolling Marines.

He had been a great help to them. But just as they were exchanging pleasantries, the Marines arrived again, this time with a large number of warships, and they seemed prepared.

Bon Clay planned to sacrifice himself, using a switcheroo to distract them and help Lake and his crew escape. Lake, however, quickly remembered who the Marines were.

He refused Bon Clay's suggestion, telling him to take his men and leave first. The Marines' target was them, so they wouldn't pay attention to Bon Clay.

Ultimately, Bon Clay, for the sake of his men's lives, abandoned his plan, tearfully bidding farewell to Luffy before leaving.

After Xiao Feng left, Nami went up to Lake and asked what to do. Lake calmly replied, "Just set sail normally. Be careful to protect the Going Merry and try not to let it get damaged. If they keep chasing us, I'll show them what a surprise is."

The smile on Lake's face as he spoke made Nami a little scared. She quickly began giving orders, and the Going Merry soon started moving.

Meanwhile, on the approaching warship, a red-haired woman with a cigarette in her mouth was talking to a Den Den Mushi.

"Smoker, Tina is disappointed! You just let them go like that."

"That's my business, none of yours."

"You're being soft-hearted? I won't! Tina has already spotted their ship, now they can't escape!"

"What?! Who sent you! Whoever gave the order, get out of here right now, or you and your fleet will be in trouble."

"Hmph! Tina thinks you're scared out of your wits. They're just some brats who just came from the East Blue, a maximum bounty of forty million, Tina will take care of them quickly."

*Click*

The Den Den Mushi was hung up. The red-haired beauty looked a little angry. Her name was Tina, known as "Black Cage." She joined the Navy at the same time as Smoker, both being students of Zephyr, and they were good friends.

Several days had passed since the Alabasta incident, and as a Navy member, Tina naturally knew about it, but she was very dissatisfied with Smoker's actions.

In her eyes, the Straw Hat crew was nothing more than a group of inexperienced pirates who had luckily defeated Crocodile. Smoker had no reason to be afraid and not capture them.

However, thinking about it, it was understandable. The Straw Hat crew had improved significantly recently, and their previous bounties no longer reflected their strength.

Only Smoker, who had close contact with them, knew this. The reason Smoker had sent Tina away after being repeatedly defeated was because he knew just how strong the Straw Hat crew was, especially Lake.

But the proud Tina only thought Smoker was afraid and underestimated her, so she angrily decided to vent her anger on the ram-headed pirate ship.

"Everyone to position! Attack immediately once they're within range!"

"Yes, Captain Tina!"

The Going Merry's speed was no match for the Navy's superior technology. The distance gradually closed, and the enemy launched their attack.

However, instead of cannonballs, they fired massive black iron bars—Tina's personal fleet, known as the Black Spear Formation.

These massive iron bars could easily pierce pirate ships, rendering them immobile and ultimately allowing them to be surrounded and captured. This formation had never failed since Tina set sail.

But today, she was going to experience defeat. Facing the barrage of massive iron bars, Zoro calmly positioned his three swords, assumed a fighting stance, and chanted:

"Three-Sword Style: Crow: Wind Demon Hunt!"

Clang! Clang! Clang…

Zorro leaped high into the air, unleashing a series of all-around slashes. All the massive black bars were easily sliced ​​into several pieces, falling to the sea.

Lake nodded in approval at this sight. It seemed Zoro had grasped the essence of the Gale Sword Technique even more; his previous moves had been improved upon using Gale Swordsmanship.

Tina was also startled. That slash was definitely at the level of a swordsman, and she remembered the person's appearance.

Pirate Hunter, Roronoa Zoro, Bounty: 17 million Berries.

"What a joke!" Tina shouted angrily.

She immediately ordered her subordinates to continue the attack. A second wave of giant black rods was launched. This time, Sanji was about to attack, and Zoro silently sheathed his sword.

Sanji's entire body was engulfed in pale blue flames, and his feet turned into flames like branding irons. Lake analyzed the situation.

"It seems Sanji has already combined his Diable Jambe with his special Armament Haki. It looks like he's not far from reaching the Diable Jambe form."

Sanji's original Diable Jambe form involved using high-speed rotation to generate high temperatures in his feet, turning them crimson red and producing special high-heat energy—this was essentially his signature Armament Haki.

But now, possessing true Devil Fruit power, Sanji used it to transform into Diable Jambe, his entire body ablaze with blue flames.

"Diable Jambe: Banquet Extravaganza!"

Sanji leaped into the air, his body spinning rapidly. Starting with the flames beneath his feet, the blue flames on his body surged, instantly forming a massive fire tornado.

A fiery tornado, a mixture of red and blue flames, was terrifying to behold. Any black iron rods that approached were instantly melted, turning into molten iron that was flung into the sea.

Even Lake couldn't help but call Sanji's move cool, but seeing this, Sanji still dared to attack. Now it was Lake's turn to intervene.

He had initially wanted to give Smoker some face, but it seemed some arrogant girls needed to be taught a lesson!

Chapter 71 Lake's attack was comparable to a natural disaster."You guys just need to protect the Going Merry. I'm going to teach them a lesson!" With that, Lake vanished.

Luffy, still recovering from his injuries, wanted to join in but was tied up by Chopper. Zoro and Sanji exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously.

The two always displayed remarkable teamwork in crucial moments, and this was no exception. Forget their usual bickering, they focused all their energy on protecting the Going Merry.

Lake, however, didn't directly storm the ship. Instead, he considered another approach. This was the sea, so he needed to make the most of his advantages.

With this in mind, Lake went directly into the sea. Although his Devil Fruit ability was part of the system and wouldn't be affected by Seastone, he still couldn't unleash his power underwater.

However, Lake hadn't planned to use his Devil Fruit ability anyway. He silently approached the warship and assumed a fighting stance in the water.

"Fish-Man Karate - Ultimate Technique - Sea King Spear Wave!"

*Pfft! Pfft! Pfft...*

Suddenly, the calm sea surface erupted with powerful jets of water. The force was so great that any warship hit would shatter instantly.

Faced with this sudden turn of events, Tina was startled. This attack, seemingly a natural disaster, left her completely bewildered.

They could only try to escape the area as quickly as possible, but the warships were too slow. Before they could leave, the fierce water jet attack had already destroyed all the warships.

Lake, admiring his handiwork in the water, was about to say something when he almost forgot he was still in the sea; he wasn't a fish-man.

He was still holding his breath, having narrowly escaped disaster. Lake quickly swam to the surface, where he met the gaze of a red-haired beauty clinging to a plank of wreckage.

The two stared at each other in silence for a moment before Tina said in a menacing tone, "So it's you! You devil, Lake… I won't let you get away with this!"

Because Tina herself was a Devil Fruit user, although she had managed to grab a broken plank when the warship shattered, she had been submerged in the sea.

So now she could only utter threats, completely powerless. Lake naturally knew this, but he was still somewhat indignant.

"You, someone completely defenseless, dare to threaten me like this?" So Lake swaggered over to Tina's side, instantly crowding the already cramped plank.

Tina was startled. Seeing Lake's mischievous grin, she admitted she was genuinely frightened, thinking he was about to do something.

Because she was weak, she could only scream. Lake, of course, wouldn't let her succeed. He tried to cover her mouth, but the girl bit him!

Angry, Lake slapped her bottom across the face.

*Smack!*

The crisp sound and the pain from behind stunned Tina. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and before Lake could do anything,

Tina, blushing, wrapped her arms around Lake's neck. This left Lake dumbfounded, wondering if he had awakened some strange fetish in her.

However, he quickly realized that Tina, blushing and panting, seemed to want a kiss, leaning closer to Lake, but her true intention was...

Just as Lake got very close to her, Tina's hands and legs transformed into black iron chains. Lake hadn't expected this to be a honey trap.

Unfortunately, she used the wrong person. Looking at Tina, who was almost face-to-face with him, Lake grinned wickedly. Then, the moment before, Tina's pupils dilated in shock.

With such a beautiful woman so close to him, only Luffy could resist. Feeling the softness pressing against his chest, Lake almost lost control.

Tina's figure and looks were just too good. By the time Tina realized what was happening, Lake had already finished his pleasure, and Tina felt something pressing against her.

Just as she was about to unleash her fury, Lake vanished instantly. The next second, his body turned into a wisp of smoke, floating in the air, leaving only his head smiling at Tina.

"Consider this interest. Next time you see me, remember to stay far away, Miss Tina~"

With that, Lake made his escape. Only a fool wouldn't run away after doing something bad; staying to mock someone is what villains do, and Lake wasn't a villain.

After Lake left, Tina lay weakly on the wooden plank, looking at the sky and recalling the scene from just moments ago. She gritted her teeth and said, "Lake! Tina won't let you get away with this!"

When Lake returned to the Merry, he found his companions looking at him strangely. Startled, Lake thought he'd been caught doing something wrong.

But in reality, everyone was amazed by Lake's strength. As bystanders, they found what they had just witnessed terrifying.

Lake, scratching his head, readily accepted his crew's praise. But just then, a voice suddenly came from inside the cabin.

"Looks like we're safe now."

Hearing this voice, the crew all turned to look. They were all startled when they saw who it was, but Lake wasn't surprised at all.

Because it was Robin! Robin had said she'd be waiting on their ship, and Lake had been wondering if she hadn't come.

Turns out she'd been there all along, just hadn't shown herself. While the crew was surprised, they remembered what Lake had told them about Robin.

No one showed any hostility, making the explanation much easier. Besides, Robin had easily controlled the Straw Hat crew with a few simple tricks.

Luffy used Robin's ability to imitate Chopper, making Usopp laugh heartily. The two were having a great time, and Chopper, called "the ship's doctor," blushed and kept wriggling.

Sanji, needless to say, was completely unguarded around beautiful women, becoming a total simp. Zoro didn't say anything, but judging from his behavior, he didn't seem to mind.

Ironically, Nami, who was usually the easiest to deal with, remained somewhat wary even after accepting Robin's money, much to Lake's surprise.

However, Robin immediately sensed the reason and said, "Don't worry, Navigator, I won't try to take Lake from you. I don't like people younger than me."

Nami breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and welcomed Robin with a smile. Lake hadn't expected that Nami's concern was actually this.

It seems that, without realizing it, his position in Nami's heart had surpassed that of her former favorite, money, causing Lake, who had just teased Tina, to blush with embarrassment.

Realizing he must be more restrained in the future, the ship returned to its usual tranquility, and Lake, using the Silence-Silence Fruit, began his shameless daily routine with Nami.

Chapter 72 The Giant Ship That Descended from the Sky!One morning, Lake stretched as he emerged from Nami's room. On the deck, a fully healed Luffy was playing cards with Usopp and Chopper.

Luffy's injuries healed so quickly because the night they left Alabasta, they held a banquet to welcome Robin.

Lake took this opportunity to give Robin and Chopper the spells and Healing Palm Technique he had previously created. Both reacted with curiosity and confusion.

The Healing Palm Technique was completely beyond Lake's comprehension; he felt it was even more magical than magic, and immediately tested it on Luffy.

Because Luffy's injuries were all external, Chopper's medical skills were sufficient to completely heal them. So, when the Healing Palm Technique was used, Luffy was instantly and completely cured.

Luffy, with his bandages removed, was amazed by the technique's power. Chopper, praised by his crewmates, blushed and squirmed. Robin's reaction was even more outrageous.

After hearing Lake's explanation, Robin looked at him with a "you think I'm a kid?" expression. Lake knew this was indeed an abstract concept.

So he directly asked Robin to try it out, giving her a heads-up beforehand: "Like I said before, don't use spells on people much stronger than you to say anything forceful."

Robin nodded and focused on Usopp, saying, "Crying loudly."

Suddenly, Usopp, who was just a moment ago teasing Chopper and laughing, burst into tears, startling everyone around him.

Robin was stunned, so she immediately tried it on Luffy, saying, "Sleeping."

"Hahahaha! Usopp, you're so funny... Zzzzz~"

Similarly, Luffy, who was just a moment ago laughing, suddenly fell asleep. Although this had happened to Luffy before while eating, this time it was clearly not intentional.

Robin, meanwhile, also encountered a problem. Her legs went weak, and she instantly lost all strength. Luckily, she caught Lake at the crucial moment, preventing her from collapsing to the ground.

Lake, seeing this, said helplessly, "Luffy's strength is more than it appears on the surface. Compared to you, the gap is quite large."

Robin nodded without speaking. She hadn't expected the straw-hatted boy to be so strong. She had felt the drain on him when he used a spell on Usopp.

However, it was very small, so Robin decided to try it on Luffy. Unexpectedly, it completely exhausted her. Now, she just felt amazed.

Completely unaware that she was still leaning on Lake, the "main heroine" quickly expressed her displeasure. Lake quickly helped Robin sit down.

Then he immediately went behind Nami, massaging her shoulders to cheer her up. Nami looked angry, but she was actually happy inside; the smile on her lips said it all.

Back to the main point, Lake looked at the weather, initially thinking that nothing would happen today, but he soon realized something was wrong. It seemed like something was falling from the sky?

The reason he said this was because ever since entering the Grand Line, it seemed like it could rain knives from the sky, and in such situations, a navigator should be called immediately.

However, Nami was exhausted from what Lake had done to her last night and was still resting. Lake decided to check on the situation, and just as he was thinking this, he looked up.

"Huh?!"

Lake's expression immediately turned into a meme-worthy expression, and his companions all looked up in confusion before instantly mimicking Lake's pose, completely stunned.

What they saw wasn't the sky or clouds, but a ship—yes, a ship dozens of times larger than the Going Merry, looking as if it had fallen from the sky.

Shocked as they were, Lake quickly reacted, shouting, "Fold the sails! Fire the spears! There's no dodging anymore! Stay put and protect this area around the Going Merry!"

The rest of the crew then snapped out of their daze and began bustling about. The noise on the ship woke Nami, who was still sleeping. She had barely stepped outside when she saw debris flying everywhere.

Looking up, Nami nearly fainted from fright. Lake quickly rushed forward to support her, saying, "Don't be afraid, I can handle it."

Lake's words always reassured Nami. She nodded at Lake, then took out the Great Elementalist's Staff and said, "I'll help too."

Although Nami seemed a little strained, Lake couldn't refuse her determined little eyes and could only agree.

After the ship's preparations were complete, their mission began. Lake took the lead, standing in the middle of the ship and floating up. The previously calm weather suddenly turned into a gust of wind.

"Wind Rise - Tornado Vortex!"

Whoosh!

Lake, his eyes glowing green, floated in the air like a great mage, then suddenly formed a massive tornado, perfectly enveloping the Going Merry.

It was more like a swirling column of wind than a tornado. With Lake's manipulation, the tornado began to change shape, its top sealing off and perfectly enveloping the Going Merry.

This reduced the threat by 90%, but some stubborn, massive ship wreckage remained, escaping the strong winds and entering the area.

These would have to be handled by the remaining crew. Lake had to maintain this state until the giant ship in the sky completely fell.

The fact that it was still wreckage made dealing with it so troublesome. If it were a single, massive structure, Lake wouldn't even need to lift a finger.

With a burst of full power and Sanji's assistance, it could be easily dealt with. But because it was wreckage, pieces of varying sizes were constantly falling.

A slight misstep could cause the Going Merry to capsize under the weight of a single massive plank. Now, Lake had completed his part, minimizing the threat as much as possible.

The crewmates naturally noticed this as well. Usopp immediately exclaimed, "Like, that guy is practically a monster! Every time I see him fight, it redefines my understanding of power."

Chopper, standing nearby, nodded repeatedly. Although he hadn't been on the ship long ago, he had witnessed Lake's impressive feats before and also thought Lake was incredibly powerful.

Zoro and Sanji whispered something to each other, but their attention was mostly focused on the massive wooden planks and debris that had entered the area.

Nami transformed into a cyclone elemental, giving Lake a boost, making him feel much more relaxed. Lake even blew Nami a kiss.

Nami turned her head away haughtily, her face slightly flushed, and continued to buff Lake. This continued for a while longer, during which the main trio cleaned up the massive wreckage.

Ultimately, everyone safely weathered the crisis. Lake was exhausted and plopped down on the deck. This experience had confirmed Lake's own strength.

Chapter 73 News from the Sky Island, Rescuing the King ApeWithout using Hollow Vision, in terms of Marine comparisons, he's roughly equivalent to a Vice Admiral—not someone like Garp, of course, because any Admiral could handle the same situation much more easily.

However, Lake's previous actions were already at the limit of his abilities, confirming that Lake's strength is still somewhat lacking compared to an Admiral.

After the crisis passed, his crewmates were all sitting and lying on the deck when Lake realized he hadn't been paying attention to Robin. Turning around, he saw

Robin piecing together a skull from fragments. Usopp and Chopper also saw this, and both immediately hid behind pillars, though Chopper hid in the wrong place.

Nami suddenly exclaimed, "Oh no! The Log Pose is broken! It's pointing straight up!"

Hearing Nami's words, Robin put down the skull she was holding and looked at the Log Pose on Nami's wrist. "No," she said, "the Log Pose can't be broken. There's only one reason for this: the magnetic force is being attracted to the next island, the Sky Island."

"Sky Island?!"

All the crew members shouted in unison. Lake remained calm. Robin then explained the rumors about Sky Island, as she herself had never been there.

An island in the sky sounds unbelievable, but there's only one ironclad rule in seafaring: no matter how strange the phenomenon, you only need to trust one thing—the Log Pose.

Therefore, Nami, the navigator, shouldn't be thinking about the Log Pose being broken, but rather how to get to Sky Island.

After saying this, Robin continued piecing together the skull, while Nami looked at the damaged Log Pose with a troubled expression. Seeing this, Lake went over and hugged her.

"Don't worry, there'll always be a way. If all else fails, I'll just fly up with the Going Merry."

Nami turned to Lake and said irritably, "You're just teasing me."

Watching the two of them being so sweet, Sanji felt uncomfortable, so he went to watch Robin piece together the skull, while Luffy and Usopp went to explore the large piece of shipwreck floating on the sea.

Before long, Robin had pieced the skull back together, and then she even analyzed all sorts of information from it, practically revealing the ship's name.

Lake gasped in amazement. Robin's analysis revealed that the ship was an expedition from the South Blue two hundred years ago, and she even found definitive information in a book.

While discussing important matters on the ship, Luffy and Usopp started causing trouble. They both fell into the sea, and Usopp, holding Luffy, couldn't swim at all.

Their cries for help interrupted the conversation on the ship. Nami was already clenching her fists, waiting to punch them. Lake no longer needed to transform into wind.

With a simple wave of his hand, Luffy's Devil Fruit power activated, and he and Usopp were pulled aboard by a whirlwind, returning them to the ship.

Luffy, fresh from his rescue, showed no other emotion, excitedly pulling out a map he had just found, because it bore the words "Sky Piea."

It meant Skypiea, which confirmed its existence. Excited Luffy and Usopp, along with Chopper, immediately started dancing and cheering.

Nami, looking at the map, was somewhat surprised. Her first thought was that it might be fake, as fake maps are quite common.

However, seeing Luffy and the others' excitement, Nami held back, not wanting to dampen their spirits. She then naturally handed the map to Lake.

Lake casually put it into his spatial ring. This was standard practice; besides various jewels and treasures, Lake's ring was now filled with Nami's things.

Various clothes, daily necessities, and miscellaneous items—the two were practically inseparable. This was mainly for convenience, and also for their nightly dress-up play.

Now that things were mostly settled, it was time for them to set off. Previously, they had been following the compass needle, but now that it was pointing in the sky, they couldn't go anywhere for the time being.

They still needed to gather intelligence, so they had to explore the surrounding area, trying to find a place nearby where they could gather information.

Just then, they heard some strange noises, like chants.

"Salvage! Salvage!"

Accompanied by these unpleasant chants, a ship decorated with banana monkeys appeared. This guy called himself the Salvage King, claiming this was the territory of his Ape Pirates.

That's right, this guy was an ape. Lake felt that nothing in this world was strange anymore; they even had a reindeer on their ship.

Soon, their ship met the Going Merry. This guy was the type who couldn't take a compliment. After a nonsensical exchange with Luffy, he decided to show Luffy and his crew his Salvage King skills.

Then they began the salvage operation. It was quite a spectacle, to be fair, except that in the end, it was this ape who blew the ship up to make it float.

This was honestly a bit unbelievable. How incredible must his lung capacity be to do that? But it turned out he really could, although an accident still occurred at the last moment.

A gigantic, terrifying turtle-shaped monster suddenly appeared and swallowed the sunken ship whole. Its sheer size was unforgettable.

Lake felt he would never forget this experience; witnessing it firsthand was truly awe-inspiring. However, because the sunken ship was still connected to the apes' equipment,

their ship was being dragged along by the sea monster. Logically, anyone would immediately cut the connecting ropes, but these people were clearly not normal.

These idiots were actually thinking of retrieving the sunken ship from the giant turtle's mouth! Considering they would need their help to reach the Sky Island later, Lake sighed helplessly and said,

"I'm going to help those morons. You guys watch the ship."

With that, Lake vanished in a flash, leaving his crew staring blankly at each other in bewilderment. Help those idiots? That meant fighting that gigantic monster!

Lake reviewed all the techniques he possessed. His own naming magic was definitely not enough; only the strongest fighters in this world could pry open that creature's mouth.

Of all the world-class powers listed on Lake's stats, only Hawkeye's Black Blade was truly top-tier, but unfortunately, it was only a weakened version, still falling short of the required level. It seemed Lake had no choice but to settle for the latter.

Soon, Lake arrived at the ape's ship and said, "I'll lend you a hand, but I want a share of the treasure from the sunken ship. You don't mind, do you?"

The ape instinctively wanted to refuse the idea of ​​sharing the treasure, but seeing the confident man and the giant sea turtle before him, he gritted his teeth and agreed